Power-transmitting mechanism.



Patented Aug. l5, I899.

L. KNOPF.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

(Application filed In. -18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

In 'e ntor. 1% a; d I

Attney unmou. o. c.

Tn: norms versus co PH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS KNOPF, OF LANSING, IOIVA.

POWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,899, dated August 15, 1899.

Application filed M r h 13, 1899. Serial No. 708,930. (No model.)

To aZZ 1072 0727, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis Know, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, Allamakee county, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Transmitting Mechanism,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in power-transmitting mechanism, with especial reference to the use of windmill-power.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of mechanism specially adapted for use in connection with windmills, with means for relieving the strain upon the long connectingrod during the downward stroke, whereby vibration or lateral bending of such rod may be avoided, regard being also had for economy in the application of the power and for the adaptation of the invention to windmills of ordinary construction.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a side View of the driving-wheel and gearing to which the motion of the windmill is to be communicated, showing the pawlarms and the connecting pivot-bolts of the pitmen. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters in both views.

Pitman-rods A and B are pivotally secured together at M and connected at their lower ends to branches E and F of the pawl-arms G and H, the latter being loosely supported on the shaft L of the driving gear-wheel T. The gear-wheel T is provided with internal ratchet-teeth K, with which pawls or dogs (J and D, carried by the arms G and H, are adapted to engage. The pawls are pivotally secured to the arms at P and Q, respectively, and are arranged to engage the ratchet-teeth when driven in the direction of movement of p the gear-wheel Ti. 0., theleft-hand pawl O is adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth during the upward stroke, and the right-hand pawl D will engage the ratchet during the downward stroke of their respective pawl-arms. Each of the pawls is provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the end of the pawl-arms to limit the backward movement of the pawls, while permitting them to oscillate in the direction of motion, it being understood that the pawls are held in position to engage the ratchet-teeth by any suitable device, such as are commonly employed in connection with such mechanism. (:3

The pitman B is secured to the connectingrod N of the windmill at 0, so that the upward movement of the latter is communicated to the gear-wheel T through the pitmen B and A, pawl-arms G, and dogs 0, and the downward stroke is similarly communicated to the gear-wheel through the pitman B, pawl-arm II, and pawl D. The application of power from the rod N is thereby rendered substantially continuous.

It will be observed that by connecting the pitmen A and B to the branches E and F of the pawl-arms I am able to secure along pit man stroke within the gear-wheel T in the arc of maximum leverage. This feature is of especial importance where the power is supplied by a windmill, owing to the loss of power by slippage where the pitmen are per mitted to approach the line of centers.

It will be observed that the pawl-arm H is connected to the frame I by a spring J, which is attached to the pawl-arm and frame at the points R and S, respectively. During the upward stroke of the connecting-rod N the spring J is extended, and by its reaction on the downward stroke relieves the strain on the rod N. This feature is also important owing to the fact that the rod Nis necessarily long, and consequently apt to bend orvibrate in in its bearings during the downward stroke, while by the use of the spring J the maximum duty is performed during the upward stroke, the work being proportioned to the relative strength of the rod in drawing or pushing the load.

In the construction shown the wheel T constitutes the driving-wheel in a chain of gears through which motion may be communicated to the point of use. These can obviously be arranged in any manner suitable for the purpose. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the connectingrod of a windmill; of a gear-wheel provided with an internal ratchet; a pair of pawl-arms loosely supported by the gear-wheel shaft; pawls secured to said arms and arranged to engage said ratchet on opposite sides to actuate the gear-wheel; pitman-rods respectively connecting the pawl-arms With the connecting-rod of the windmill; and a spring secured to the frame, and connected with the downwardly-acting pawl-arm, substantially for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, With the connectingrod of a windmill; of a gear-Wheel provided with an internal ratchet; a pair of pawl-ar1ns loosely supported by the gear-whee1 shaft and branched at their outer ends; a pawl secured to one of the branches of each pawl-arm, said pawls being arranged to engage the ratchet on opposite sides, to actuate the gear-wheel; pitinan-rods respectively secured to the other branches of said pawl-arms and connecting the same with the windmill connecting-rod; and a spring connecting the downwardly-acting pawl-arm with the Windmill-frame, substantially for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS KNOPF.

Vitnesses:

THOS. KERNDT, J. D. JoHNsoN. 

